Exhaust gas treatment device



Nov. 21, 1967 E. A. CABALLERO 3,353,336

EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT DEVICE Filed 000. 19, 1965 INVENTOR- fUW/l 0 A 645/! a 20 ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,353,336 EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT DEVICE Edward A. Caballero, 1216 Spruce Ave., Chico, Calif. 95926 Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 498,010 3 Claims. (Cl. 55-228) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exhaust gas treating chamber including a plurality of compartments with angularly sloping downwardly extending baflles therein and a plurality of spray nozzles extending therethrough said a liquid circulation system which circulates a chemical absorbent solution of borax, chlorophyll, trisodium phosphate and n-lauryl sulphate is disclosed.

This invention relates to exhaust gas treatment devices, and more particularly to a device of this character to be used on a vehicle for minimizing the emission of combustion irritants into the atmosphere.

Attempts are being made at the present to provide devices for minimizing the emission of exhaust irritants into the atmosphere with several devices presently being on the market. In particular California has faced the problem of air pollution as a result of combustion irritants and had, for a period of time, a lawful statute making mandatory the equipment of all new automobiles and many old automobiles with an irritant reducing exhaust system attachment. Because of the high cost of installation and maintenance, a wave of public opinion developed adverse to such devices which resulted in a portion of the statute being repealed by the State Legislature. Other than the high cost of installation and maintenance, the previously knOWn devices also have relatively short lives and require periodic expensive replacements.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an exhaust gas treatment device for vehicles which is simple to manufacture and install, easy to maintain and which has a long period of useful life.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exhaust gas treatment device for vehicles which utilizes the absorptive and cleansing capacities of chemicals to remove irritants from the exhaust stream of a vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of, the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all of which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an overall organizational view, partly in section, of the exhaust gas treatment assembly of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1 and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is another transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 and viewing in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a further transverse cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIGURE 1 taken along line 4-4 thereof and viewing in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at an exhaust gas treatment assembly which is mounted on a vehicle of any suitable type. Exhaust gas treatment device 10 has as its major components an exhaust gas passageway means shown generally at 12 and a liquid chemical recirculation system shown generally at 14.

Gas passageway means 12 includes a first conduit 16 which is in fluid communication with the exhaust mani fold of a power plant of a conventional vehicle. Passageway means 12 also includes a compartmentized receptacle shown generally at 18 providing fluid communication between first exhaust conduit 16 and a terminal exhaust conduit 20 which delivers the treated combustion products to the atmosphere.

Compartmentized receptacle 18 includes an outer shell 22, which is illustrated as rectangular in cross section, but which may be of any suitable configuration having end walls 24, 26 providing a closed air-tight receptacle. Positioned interiorly of end wall 24 and closely adjacent thereto is a first compartment wall 28 coextensive with the interior of shell 22, both end wall 24 and first wall 28 being suitably apertured for the reception of first exhaust conduit 16. It is seen that the spaced apart relation of walls 24, 28 provides a stable means for receiving conduit 16.

A first compartment 30 is created by the positioning of a second compartment wall 32, a substantial distance from first wall 28. A second compartment 34 is created by positioning a third compartment wall 36 interiorly of shell 22 and spaced from second compartment wall 32. Compartment walls 32, 36 are substantially identical and span the transverse distance of shell 22 as shown in FIGURE 3. Compartment walls 32, 36 are provided with a bottom edge 38, 49 spaced from and preferably parallel to the bottom wall of shell 22 for purposes more fully explained hereinafter. Walls 32, 36 are also equipped with an arcuate or semicircular cut out 42, 44 positioned in the central upper edge of walls 32, 36 to allow for the passage of exhaust gases through receptacle 18.

A third compartment 46 is created by the positioning of a false end wall 48 spaced from and closely adjacent end Wall 26 coextensive with the interior of shell 22 and being suitably apertured to receive exhaust conduit 20 as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will beseen that exhaust gases entering exhaust conduit 16 will be delivered into first compartment 30 and may travel through the opening created by arcuate cut out 42 into second compartment 34. Gases within compartment 34 may likewise travel through the opening produced by arcuate cut out 44 into third compartment 46 and then through exhaust conduit 20 to the atmosphere.

Liquid chemical recirculation system 14 includes a reservoir tank 50 connected by a conduit 52 to the inlet 54 of a conventional pump 56. Pump 56 delivers the pressurized chemicals through an outlet 58 and a conduit 60 to a plurality of branch lines 62, 64, 66 in fluid communication with each of compartments 30, 34, 46. Positioned on the outlet end of each of branch lines 62, 64, 66 is a shower head 68, 70, 72 providing for the dispersal of the pressurized liquid in finely divided form. As more fully explained hereinafter, the fluid removes a significant amount of the irritant impurities in the exhaust stream introduced by conduit 16 into receptacle 18. As seen in FIGURE 1 each of shower heads 68, 70, 72 are oriented such that the exhaust gases entering each of compartments 30, 34, 46 is directed in the path of the finely divided mist created by shower heads 68, 70, 72.

Positioned within second and third compartments 34,

. 46 is an imperforate baflie or fin shown generally at 74 v shower heads 70, 72 with the outlets of the shower heads being positioned between fin 74 and inlet openings 42, 44 of each of compartments 34, 46.

In cross section, baffles 74 comprise a first concave section 80 with aperture 7 3 being positioned substantially inthe center thereof and a second lowerconcave portion 82 which acts to direct the flow of exhaust gases toward the bottom of shell 22 and which facilitates the condensation of the sprayed liquid to minimize the loss thereof through exhaust pipe 20.

Since much of the mist produced by shower heads 68, 70, 72 is of sufiicient size to gravitate to the bottom of shell 22 and since fins or bafiies 74 promote the condensation thereof, a layer of liquid 84 collects therein. A suitable conduit 86 is positioned in first compartment 30 and has a top edge 88 extending above lower edges 38, 40 of second and third compartment walls 32, 36. It is seen that the liquid in layer 84 will flow into conduit 86 only when the level of liquid layer 84 is above lower edges 38, 40 of walls 32, 36. It is apparent that any exhaust gases introduced into compartments 30, 34 must pass through openings 42, 44 and yet the arrangement allows for the drainage of collected liquids without requiring a manifold or the like.

A'filter indicated generally at 90 includes receptacle 92 in fluid communication with conduit 86 and receives the overflowfrom liquid body 84. Receptacle 92 preferably contains a body of activated charcoal 94 which acts to remove substantial quantities of impurities from the liquid stream. Although filter 90 is illustrated as connected to the underside of receptacle 18, it is to be understood that it may be conveniently mounted in another location, such as under the hood of the associated vehicle. The interior of filter 90 is'connected to chemical tank 50 through a wire screen 96 and a suitable fluid conduit 98.

In the operation of liquid recirculating system 14, pump 56 will be actuated to withdraw quantities of the liquid agent from tank 50 and deliver them under pressure to shower heads 58, '70, 72. The finely divided mist leaving shower heads 68, 70, 72 will entrain substantial quantities of impurities with the majority of the liquid coming to rest in layer 84- which drains off through conduit 86 to filter 90. The collected liquids in filter 90 may drain off or be pumped into chemical tank 50 for the restarting of the recirculation cycle.

Since the condensation operations of the instant invention are not totally efficient and since a substantial amount of fluid will be lost by evaporation, a certain amount of the liquid stream will be lost through exhaust pipe 20 and must be replenished from time to time. Indications are that this loss of absorptive chemicals is not prohibitive such that replacements may be made at ordinary service stations. From time to time replacement of activated charcoal body 94 will become necessary, which makes advantageous the positioning thereof under the hood of the automobile so that filter 90 may be serviced in a manner similar to an oil'filter.

While it is not completely understood at this time why the chemical solutions enumerated hereinafter act to removed combustion produced irritants from an exhaust stream, it is presently believed that a combined cleaning and absorption process is responsible. For example, cleansers other than sodium lauryl sulfate, borax and trisodium phosphate have been experimented with, none of which have produced acceptable results. While the use of either form of chlorophyll has proved feasible, the deletion thereof has resulted in an exhaust stream containing unacceptable amounts of combustion irritants.

The essential ingredients of the chemical absorbent and cleansingsolution of the instant invention are (1) a sodium salt of a medium molecular weight synthetic ether sulfate of the formula where n is from ten to eighteen, (2) Na B O commonly known as borax, (3) chlorophyll of either the A or B type, (4) trisodium phosphate and (5) a water carrier. One example of the chemical solution found to be efficacious in the removal of combustion irritants from an exhaust stream is set forth in the followingtable:

T ableI Amount in parts Component: by weight Sodium lauryl sulfate 16.0000 Borax (Na B O 1.0000 Chlorophyll A .0023 Trisodium phosphate 4.5000 Water 78.4977

To prepare the chemical solution, an appropriate amount of each of the components may be acquired from a commercial source with the sodium lauryl sulfate being purchased under the trade name of Avirol Bod 183 from the Standard Chemical Corporation of Hoboken, NJ. Chlorophyll A is a well known chemical as indicated in Merck Index, 7th Ed., 1960, p. 245. The Avirol Bod 183 should first be dispersed in half of the Water. Borax and trisodium phosphate should be added to the balance of the Water in the indicated amount with chlorophyll being added thereto as a concentrate. The two water solution portions are then stirred together until uniform.

Chemical tank 50 may then be filled with the prepared mixture with pump 56 being operated to deliver this mixture to the interior of receptacle 18 as previously discussed.

Another example of the composition found efiicacious is set forth in the following table:

This solution may be prepared in substantially the same manner as the example of Table I. It'should be pointed out that the first component appearing in Table II is the generalized form of sodium lauryl sulfate with the textbook formula thereof occurring when n is .12.

Still another example is set forth in the following Table:

Table III Amount in parts Component: by Weight Sodium lauryl sulfate 14.5000 Borax (Na B O 1.5000 Chlorophyll B .0422 Trisodium phosphate 4.0000 Water 79.9578

The solution of this example may be prepared in much the same manner as the two preceding examples. It should be pointed out that chlorophyll B is utilized but in a much greater amount than chlorophyll A is utilized in the preceding examples.

It is now seen that there is herein'provided an improved exhaust gas treatment device having all of the advantages of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A vehicular exhaust gas treatment system which in combination comprises:

an exhaust gas treating chamber having means for receiving exhaust gas at one point and discharging treated exhaust gas at another point;

a plurality of upstanding divider walls in the chamber arranged and disposed to provide a plurality of compartments which are in communication at the top and bottom;

a plurality of downwardly concave angularly sloping downwardly extending bafiies disposed in said compartments for directing exhaust gases and rninimizing loss of spray;

a plurality of spray nozzles extending through said bafiles for dispersing liquid into only a portion of said compartments;

a liquid recirculation system, including said spray nozzles and further including a filter, for withdrawing liquid from said chamber and returning such liquid after filtering to the chamber through the nozzles; and

a chemical absorbent liquid in said chamber and recirculation system.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said recirculating system includes at least one outlet conduit in one of said compartments having its inlet spaced from said lowermost portion of said chamber a greater distance than said compartment walls are spaced from said lowermost portion of said chamber, said conduit providing fluid communication between the interior of said chamber and the exterior thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said chemical absorbent liquid is composed of a minor portion consisting essentially of borax, chlorophyll, trisodium phosphate and where n is between 10 and 18, and a major portion of Water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,343 9/1937 Bichowsky 26l-2 2,932,364 4/1960 Binter 6030 2,975,586 3/1961 Bray 60-30 3,282,047 11/ 1966 Wertheimer -229 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

C. N. HART, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VEHICULAR EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT SYSTEM WHICH IN COMBINATION COMPRISES: AN EXHAUST GAS TREATING CHAMBER HAVING MEANS FOR RECEIVING EXHAUST GAS AT ONE POINT AND DISCHARGING TREATED EXHAUST GAS AT ANOTHER POINT; A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING DIVIDER WALLS IN THE CHAMBER ARRANGED AND DISPOSED TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS WHICH ARE IN COMMUNICATION AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM; A PLURALITY OF DOWNWARDLY CONCAVE ANGULARLY SLOPING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING BAFFLES DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENTS FOR DIRECTING EXHAUST GASES AND MINIMIZING LOSS OF SPRAY; A PLURALITY OF SPRAY NOZZLES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BAFFLES FOR DISPENSING LIQUID INTO ONLY A PORTION OF SAID COMPARTMENTS; A LIQUID RECIRCULATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING SAID SPRAY NOZZLES AND FURTHER INCLUDING A FILTER, FOR WITHDRAWING LIQUID FROM SAID CHAMBER AND RETURNING SUCH LIQUID AFTER FILTERING TO THE CHAMBER THROUGH THE NOZZLES; AND A CHEMICAL ABSORBENT LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER AND RECIRCULATION SYSTEM. 